hh Gregg Appliances

According to Sub-Zero, kitchens often sell homes, and homebuyers know top quality appliances when they see them. A Sub-Zero refrigerator can make your kitchen stand out and mean the difference between selling and not selling your home.

And if your kitchen is not quite up to snuff, know that kitchen remodeling can net an return on investment of 85 percent or higher, and homeowners with a Sub-Zero unit in the kitchen will offend find the refrigerator may pay for itself when it comes time to sell.

"Homes with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances sell 45 percent faster than homes with traditional appliances," Linda Aparicio of Prudential Realty in Connecticut told Sub-Zero.

The business trade recognizes the value of Sub-Zero as well. For the 12th year in a row, Sub-Zero refrigerators were ranked number one by "Builder" magazine.

Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances may be found at all Fine Lines locations.

Environmentally concerned consumers may want to make greener choices at the grocery store, but most do not have the information they need. A group of four young designers hope to solve this problem with their Augmented Living Goods mobile app, which recently got a boost by winning first prize in the Consumer Electronics Association's annual Greener Gadgets Design Competition held in New York.

Former Savannah College of Art & Design students Shane Blomberg, John Healy, Seth Laupus and Andrew Reeves explained that AUG would scan a new barcode system for food and give instant information about the product from the shopper's cell phone.

"The augmented living goods program provides a stream of producer information which enables shoppers to make a more informed buying decision," Healy told TechNewsDaily, "At this point in time, mobile technology makes information digestible on-the-go, so the climate is right for a program such as AUG to lift the cloud between producers and consumers."

Greener Gadgets conference attendees agreed. While judges weighed in on the finalists, the winner was determined by the people at the show.

The National Grocers Association annual study of U.S. shoppers' grocery buying habits confirms interest in organic produce is at its highest level ever. More than six in ten people now say organic products matter in the stores they frequent, and more than nine out of ten people regarded high quality fruits and vegetables as "very important."

The study also showed more interest in nutrition and health information. Four out of 10 shoppers rated the availability of this type of information as a "very important" store trait, a jump of six percentage points over last year's results. AUG would provide this information and more to shoppers as they pondered their choices in the produce aisles.

How AUG works

AUG begins with a new bar-coded directory that can be accessed through text or by smartphone app. Shoppers could scan the bar-code of any produce, dairy or meat item in the system, and see things like: Where the farm is, how far it is from the store, nutritional information, pricing history and other available data to make a more informed buying decision.

Shoppers could also receive promotional information and rewards for purchasing an AUG-assigned product.

AUG creators point out this type of bar code system is already in use for many grocery items. AUG Living Goods Program would be a technologically feasible extension to give eco-conscious consumers the relevant information they need to make greener buying decisions.

The boys may have their work cut out for them, but the green trends are in their favor. Healy said, "We are looking into funding options and hope to test the idea in a few different markets within the year."

Meanwhile, green shoppers may consider replacing any outdated appliances with Energy Star Rated models from hhgregg.

Good news for the building industry as Thermador, a major home appliance manufacturer, announced it is expanding its One, Two, Free program.

“Our expanded One, Two, Free offer is good news for professional remodelers and smaller home and condominium owners who want to upgrade to a Thermador kitchen but may not meet the kitchen space requirements for our larger appliances,” said Zach Elkin, director of the Luxury Division of BSH Home Appliances Corp., Thermador’s parent company.

Elkin continued, “Now culinary enthusiasts can save big while creating a professional-caliber kitchen that will showcase their cooking skills.”

Contractors or consumers who buy any size Professional Series range top or Masterpiece Series cook top and accompanying double or triple oven will get a free Thermador Emerald dishwasher. And if they also buy a refrigerator or two wine, freezer or refrigeration columns, they’ll get a free ventilation system.

Thermador is supporting the expanded program with new point-of-sale materials and other on-floor collateral throughout 2010. Thermador appliances are available at all Fine Lines locations.